Carolynn Black
Carolynn Black: n., NY orig. 1. female singer-songwriter/soul mama known to encourage happiness, dancing, and good vibes through music.
Accused of sounding like the freaky-lesbo-love-child of Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin, Carolynn describes herself as a bluesy,country-funkified soul singer. She is all those things, and then some.
Carolynn Black was born in a sleepy little seaside suburb of the Big Apple, and from the first day of music class she wanted to be a singer. She got her start singing alto in her jr. high school's choir, All-County choir, and the high school jazz ensemble. She graduated to blues jams during college and grad school, and then answered an add for a "whiskey-soaked vocalist" while interning in D.C. Singing lead with The Blueshounds provided the experience and education she needed to follow her dreams back to NYC at the end of 1997.
She quickly formed her own band, Carolynn Black & The Blues, and hosted a weekly jam for two years at The Wreck Room, a cozy little haunt in the heart of Greenwich Village. In March 2001, they self-produced and released "Let it go," an eclectic collection of rootsy blues, f.u.’s, and mostly true stories, described as having a "bluesy folk rock style that bleeds with an intense energy and soulful aura."
For the next three years, while Ms. Black continued to play in and around the city with The Blues, she also took over lead vocals for The Healers, a kickin’ r&b/soul/blues cover band, and became a regular at attraction at Bleecker Street's historic nightclub, The Bitter End. This ultimately lead to the release of her second cd, "livin’ in a ball factory," in December, 2004. Produced by Ms. Black and her bass player, Dean Zucchero, the album was recorded with members from The Blues, The Healers, a few special guests, and includes some blues, a garage-punk-dance around-your-apartment-love song, a waltzy ode to Amsterdam, some intimately personal pleas, and a few covers – in honor of a few musical heroes.
Due to interesting circumstances, (real estate markets, impulsive yet smart-as-hell decision making, etc.) a week after the cd release party, she was driving her little hatchback, worldy possessions and cat in tow, to Madison, WI for a little breathing room and a new life with her hubby-to-be, Tom. Little did she know, moving to the midwest would turn out to be a great career move.
It didn't take long for Carolynn to find her way through Madison's burgeoning live music scene; a blues jam here, jazz jam there, and then she sat in with the man, "The Original Funky Drummer," Clyde Stubblefield. Mr. Stubblefield, known primarily for laying down the funky grooves for James Brown, has lived and played in Madison for 30 years. A local luminary, he has mentored most of the drummers in south central Wisconsin, and at 67, is still the grooviest of them all. In October 2005, Clyde called up Carolynn and said "You're in the band!" As his "goddess of soul" Carolynn got to wrap her sultry voice around all the classic r&b, funk, blues, and soul he could dish out every Monday at The King Club. In return for her intoxicating performances, she was nominated for a 2006 MAMA (Madison Area Music Award) for Best Female Vocalist, and The Clyde Stubblefield Band won the 2007 MAMA for best Blues Band.
The same week she was asked to join Clyde Carolynn was also invited into the original r&b/neo-soul outfit Vibe Syndicate. As the new vocalist and lyricist, she was given the opportunity to step out of her box and expand her writing and song styling. Always up for a challenge, she added that extra spark to a seriously talented group of musicians. Nominated for a 2007 MAMA, and named "Madison's Best New Band" by the readers of The Isthmus, the band has wowed audiences all over town and upstate Wisconsin, even opening for r&b sensation Ryan Shaw. The band's debut album "Check Yourself" was released in October 2007, and has a very lounge/party/groovy feel to it. The tunes lyrics range from the politcal to the sexual, and include some spoken word, some Gershwin and even a calypso inspired love song.
In the midst of all this, Carolynn and her hubby formed a new band for her down-home, countrified, funky, singer/songwriter sound. The Carolynn Black Band unleashed its chicken-fried-folk at the 2006 SUMMERFEST in Milwaukee, and showcased at the 2006 MidPoint Music Festival in Cincinnati.
In August of 2007, Carolynn and Tom welcomed their first child, Ezekiel Marley, into their musical family. Babies are born recognizing their parents voices, but since Zeke essentially gestated on stage, they joke that he knew Clyde's funky beat too! As any parent will tell you, children change your life, and in November 2009, Arlo Gibson was born, changing the game even more. In April 2008, Carolynn also became an owner of Happy Bambino, a baby and maternity boutique and resource center. Her time becoming increasingly not her own, things have slowed down in the performing department - it gets harder and harder to stay up for a late gig when you've been up the night before with a little one - but certainly not stopped. Vibe Syndicate has disbanded, and The Clyde Stubblefield Band has a new fabulous singer, but Carolynn can still be found on the occasional stage (including Brat Fest, Talula's, and The High Noon Saloon) in Madison, singing her heart out. With Zeke in preschool and Arlo starting in the fall, there are sure to be more gigs and more albums coming around the bend.
It seems there is no shortage of love and excitement for Ms. Black in Madison. Accordingly, Carolynn hopes to spread her philosophy as far as she can: Music is life, so keep on rockin’!